ZACARDI CORTEZ IS BACK WITH A SOULFUL RADIO SMASH “1 On 1” FIRST RADIO SINGLE FROM “KERRY DOUGLAS PRESENTS GOSPEL MIX VI” HITS TOP 40 IN ONE WEEK

In 2012, Zacardi Cortez made a big splash with his best-selling debut CD “ZacardiCortez: The Introduction” (Worldwide Music Inc.). The album peaked at #2 onBillboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and earned him a Stellar Award nomination. Aftera brief recording hiatus, Cortez is back in the studio and has recorded a soulfulnew song that is taking the gospel and urban AC radio airwaves by storm. The simplebut dynamic piano ballad “1 on 1″ was sent to radio programmers last week. It’salready one of the most added songs at gospel radio, gaining steam on urban stationsand just landed in the Top 40 after one week in circulation.

“Zacardi is the best singer in America today,” says Worldwide Music, Inc. CEO KerryDouglas. “I’ve been grooming him like I groomed James Fortune and Earnest Pugh,” hesays. “Zacardi is my next superstar and I have no doubt that he will be one of thebiggest artists the gospel world has ever seen.” The song anchors the latestinstallment of Douglas’ best-selling Gospel Mix CD series. The new thirty-track set,“Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Mix VI,” releases August 20, 2013 and boasts greattracks by Tamela Mann, Ruben Studdard, Ted Winn, James Fortune & FIYA, Bryan Wilson,Earnest Pugh, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Evelyn Turrentine-Agee and a host of up andcoming artists.

“The song is about spending one on one time with God,” says the Houston native. “Weall go through those times when we just have to put everything else aside – turn offthe TV, put the video game down, stop taking phone calls – and just concentrate onour relationship. It can be your relationship with your girlfriend, your child orGod. We all need that one on one time with the ones we love to let them know that wedo love them and that’s the real message of the song.”

The 27-year old rising star has been singing all of his life and began his careersinging with his family, The Cortez Singers, and recording with his musicalgodfather, John P. Kee. He first gained notice as the lead on James Fortune &FIYA’s 2008 breakthrough hit “The Blood” and their subsequent #1 smash, “IBelieve.” He’s as well known for his intricate vocal gymnastics and fiery hoops asfor his smooth tone. He can sing it all, from gutbucket blues to polished pieces.His rousing track “One More Time” (featuring John P. Kee) spent six months on theBillboard Top Ten Hot Gospel Songs chart but “1 on 1″ is poised to go all the wayto the top.